Akhilesh Yadav Bolsters Bihar’s Voter Rights March
Akhilesh joins fight against vote theft
Samajwadi Party (SP) president and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav joined the Congress-led ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ in Bihar’s Saran district on Saturday, amplifying the INDIA bloc’s campaign against alleged electoral roll irregularities ahead of the state’s assembly elections. Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal hailed Yadav as a “steadfast ally” in a post on X, welcoming him to the “historic movement to protect democracy” and highlighting his advocacy for the underprivileged.
The 16-day yatra, launched by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on August 17 from Sasaram, protests the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists, which the INDIA bloc claims facilitates “vote chori” (vote theft). Covering 1,300 km across 20 districts, including Gaya, Nawada, Katihar, and Sitamarhi, it is set to conclude with a march in Patna on September 1, after the Patna administration denied permission for a rally at Gandhi Maidan.
Yadav, who arrived in Patna on Friday, criticized the ECI as a “Jugaad Commission” for the BJP, alleging it subverts voting rights. “The people of Bihar will conduct their own SIR of the Election Commission,” he told reporters, accusing the BJP of manipulating voter lists to favor the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which holds 131 seats in the 243-member Bihar Assembly.
Also Read: TMC to Join Bihar's Voter Rights March in September
Joined by Rahul Gandhi, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, and Rohini Acharya, daughter of RJD chief Lalu Prasad, Yadav’s participation in Saran—where Acharya lost the 2024 Lok Sabha polls—underscored INDIA bloc unity. Other leaders, including Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin, have joined the yatra, with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra participating in Supaul and Darbhanga.
Rahul Gandhi, in Katihar, accused the BJP of “manipulating institutions” to suppress marginalized voices, rallying supporters with the slogan “Vote Chor Gaddi Chhodd.” Tejashwi Yadav alleged the BJP siphoned ₹4,000 crore through corrupt certificate issuance, funds he claimed fuel election campaigns. The yatra, blending foot marches and vehicle travel, has drawn large crowds, with leaders like CPI(ML)’s Dipankar Bhattacharya and Vikassheel Insaan Party’s Mukesh Sahani addressing rallies, as seen in Araria.
The INDIA bloc, with 111 seats led by RJD’s 77 MLAs, aims to unseat the NDA, comprising BJP (80 seats), JD(U) (45), and HAM(S) (4). Despite tensions, including SBSP chief Om Prakash Rajbhar calling Yadav the “B-team of the BJP,” the yatra has galvanized opposition unity. Social media reflects strong support, with posts praising Yadav’s role in exposing voter fraud, though some criticize the bloc’s past contradictions.
